Imagine a format that has all the storage convenience of MP3, but sounds just as good as standard CDs. That format is MP4, and it's available now.

MP3's Time Has Come
MP3 is a decade old compression format based off the MPEG-1 Layer 3 format. It's a "lossy" compression format wherein data is removed to make the file size smaller. The MP3 format can sound good over small portable systems where soundstaging and deep bass are not heard.

It's when MP3s are listened to on a home theater or music system that MP3s lack of soundstage and distorted bass become readily apparent drawbacks. For any audiophile the MP3 format is not an option for critical music listening.

Enter MP4
MP4 is based of the current MPEG-4 codec, a full three revisions later. Utilizing MP4's new audio compression format called "AAC" an MP4 compressed file offers the same sound quality of the original CD at file size of an MP3 file.

AAC was developed by the MPEG group that includes Dolby, Fraunhofer (FhG), AT&T, Sony, and Nokia (see Apple's MP4 AAC page for more info on this).

Simply put, MP4 offers the best of both worlds.

The Importance of Size
It's MP3's file size that has lured so many music lovers to make libraries of their CDs, and take them in their portable music players like iPod. MP3's small file size enables people to take their entire music library with them conveniently, instead of just a couple of CDs.

The small file size of MP3 also allows those with vast music collections the ability to create a digital library of their music on a single computer hard drive. Having all your music available and organized at the click of a mouse is a great thing.

MP4 now gives the same great storage convenience of MP3 with the audio quality that audiophiles demand.

The size / quality ratio of the MP4 format is what gives MP4 it's astounding wow factor and industry changing promise.

MP4 Availability
The amazing thing is that MP4 is available now. For Mac users, Apple's iTunes music management software now encodes MP4 AAC files. Importing your CD library to your computer couldn't be easier with iTunes easy-to-use interface and options. Apple's iPod portable music player can play MP4 AAC files as well. Allowing you to easily take your audiophile quality music library on the road.

The good news is that Apple plans to release a PC version of iTunes later this year. In the meantime, PC users can use Apple's Quicktime Pro ($30US available for Mac and PC) to encode MP4 files, or wait for third party "iTunes-like" software to arrive.

What's this have to do with home theater? Everything.
Connecting a computer to a home theater is easy. For audio, simply get a stereo mini jack to RCA stereo splitter, then connect the left and right RCA jacks the audio input of your choice on your receiver. Your computer can become a jukebox in just a few minutes.

Granted, running the wire and hiding it can be a bit of a chore, but having all your music readily available at the click of a mouse is just simply awesome.

Also, even though MP3 sounds terrible when sound quality matters, MP3 music servers have found their way into the home theater industry. These hyped up hard drives are still very pricey, but it's just a matter of time until MP4 servers are made available as well.

Is MP4 Audiophile Quality?
In short, yes! A stand-alone CD player costing $1500 may give minor sound improvements over a computer running an MP4 player. In fact MP4s are so close to sounding the same that the only way to hear even the slightest difference is with a direct back to back comparison.

But in this case the difference in sound quality has nothing to do with the format, but rather the components running them. A dedicated high-end CD player with its entire circuitry built to play audio at the best possible level is bound to sound better than most other music players.

Throw a pure CD track in iTunes and compare it to the same song in MP4 AAC format and you won't be able to tell a difference. The simple fact that a computer's MP4 AAC player can come that close to an expensive high-end CD player is an amazing feat in itself.

The MP4 AAC format is nothing short of awesome. Its impact will certainly be felt across the entire music and audio industry. With MP4, Apple and all those involved have simply out done themselves.

Enjoy MP4 Now
Whether they be wireless or wired, there are solutions out there to get your computer connected to your home theater. More of these components will become available as more home theater enthusiasts find the advantage of connecting their computers to their home theater, and MP4 is a definite reason to start considering doing so.

A Computer In A Home Theater
It's no surprise there are many home theater enthusiasts out there that don't like the notion of connecting a computer to their home theater. For those of you that fall into this category a dedicated MP4 server would be the best option for you.

The trick is not to think of it as a computer, but rather a music server that can be located in a separate room. If you don't like the idea of a computer in your home theater, wires can be routed from your computer room to your home theater. Also with wireless technologies like LeapFrog you wouldn't have to run any wires at all.

The Rebirth of Music Distribution?
Everyone knows that the music industry is seeing major financial woes. Overpriced music CDs, the emergence of DVD, and online MP3 swapping services have all had their part in the trouble that now plagues the music industry.

With iTunes 4 Apple not only released one of the best audio formats around, but also released a music distribution web site that may just change everything.

Available through iTunes on the Mac now (and later this year on the PC) the Apple Music Store offers over 200,000 songs from the 5 biggest labels in the music industry in the MP4 AAC format. You can preview the first 30 seconds of a song before deciding whether or not to purchase it for $0.99.

While a buck a song may seem expensive to some, it is without a doubt convenient. Buying an entire album of thirteen songs will still cost $13, but just how many albums are there that you listen to every song? With the exception of your favorite group, the chances are slim to none.

A buck a song is dirt-cheap, and offers the right value of what music should cost. Pay only for what you want, and nothing more.

The potential for the Apple Music Store is huge. With the music industry starving for any solution, the Apple Music Store comes at the right time. It simply offers the right value, the perfect MP4 format, and awesome convenience.

The Future
The MP3 format took off because of the convenience it offered, not for its sound quality. While MP3 does sound good over audio solutions where depth of soundstage and audio purity don't matter much, MP4 simply offers no compromise in sound quality. It goes without saying that one way or another MP4 AAC will be the future of audio.

The MP4 codec can also compress video more efficiently than the MPEG-2 based DVD format. MP4 allows for much more video or data to fit on a DVD which could allow for either more video or better video quality. HDTV may be a good fit as well, which would open up the possibilities of a HD-DVD format.

No Surprise MP4's Ease Of Use Comes From Apple
Apple Computer is no slouch when it comes to innovation. In fact, while other computer companies have merely been offering similarly packaged computers, it's Apple that's expanded the role the computer plays in our lives. Essentially creating a digital hub the right way.

Apple Computers are the de-facto standard when it comes to the music industry, so it should be no surprise that a new revolutionary format for audio and video comes spearheaded by Apple Computer.

Summary
The MP4 AAC format is in its infancy, but you can bet this emerging technology is going to vastly change the future of home theater. There's finally an audio format worth singing about.

While it doesn't offer better sound quality than the current CD format, it increases the convenience of people's music libraries exponentially.

For more information on Apple's iTunes and Music Store visit:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/

For more information on the MP4 AAC audio compression and those involved in creating this spectacular format visit:
http://www.apple.com/mpeg4/aac/